STINSON: Bianca Andreescu makes history with U.S. Open win

On the incredible stage of the U.S. Open women’s singles final, the 19-year-old from the Toronto suburbs took down the most daunting opponent in the sport, pulling off a remarkable straight-sets win (6-3, 7-5) that makes her the first Canadian to win a Grand Slam singles title.

When the performance was over, after Andreescu had survived a furious rally from her legendary opponent after she held a 5-1 lead in the second set, with Arthur Ashe Stadium roaring and shaking in favour of the American, the Canadian dropped her racquet in disbelief. After a quick hug, she collapsed on her back in the middle of the court.

Bianca Andreescu of Canada reacts as she wins against Serena Williams of the U.S. during the Women’s singles finals match at the 2019 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City on Sept. 7, 2019.JOHANNES EISELE /
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It took almost no time at all for the reliably unflappable Andreescu to show that on this stage, the biggest possible one in tennis, she would remain utterly unflapped. She hung in the points in the first game of the match, with Williams serving, making her work hard right from the jump. Williams eventually double-faulted to drop the game, handing Andreescu a quick early advantage.

As the set wore on, with the two women slugging the ball back and forth, Andreescu utterly refused to be intimated. She served brilliantly, and kept bashing deep balls that had Williams on her heels, followed by rocket forehands to finish off points. More importantly, she stayed in points — and games — enough to allow Williams to make mistakes. The 23-time Grand Slam champ made 14 unforced errors in the first set, to just six from the player doing this kind of thing for the first time.

Serena Williams of the United States returns a shot during her Women’s Singles final match against Bianca Andreescu of Canada on day thirteen of the 2019 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Sept. 7, 2019 in New York City.Elsa /
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Andreescu wasn’t quite as sharp with her serves in the second set, but her opponent dropped a level, too. All of a sudden all the pressure was on Williams, who was now a set down in a Slam final for the fourth straight time. She had lost the previous three. And though Williams seemed to get worse as the match wore on, with Andreescu taking that big second-set lead, the woman who has won six U.S. Open titles fought back, capitalizing on, finally, some shaky play from the opponent almost 20 years her junior.

The trip to the final for Andreescu had been adventurous. After two relatively easy wins, over American teen Katie Volynets and Belgian veteran Kirten Flipkens, she was matched against Danish star Caroline Wozniacki in the third round.

The former world No. 1 would be a tough test, and it was Andreescu’s first experience playing in the massive Ashe stadium. But it was another straight-sets win, and after the defeat Wozniacki said that the Canadian teen wasn’t sneaking up on anyone these days. Despite her relative inexperience, she was making a name for herself.

Bianca Andreescu of Canada returns a shot against Serena Williams of the U.S. during the Women’s Singles Finals match at the 2019 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City on Sept. 7, 2019.TIMOTHY A. CLARY /
AFP/Getty Images

The fourth round was Andreescu’s first taste of adversity. Facing unseeded American Taylor Townsend, who had knocked off the reigning Wimbledon champ Simona Halep, Andreescu had to overcome her opponent’s unorthodox game and a well-lubricated late-night crowd that was loudly pro-Townsend. After winning the first set easily, Andreescu dropped the second before gathering herself and taking the third set decisively.

In the quarters, it was Elise Mertens, the 25th seed, who took a set off Andreescu, this time the first one of the match as she took advantage of several of the young Canadian’s mistakes. But as she had against Townsend, Andreescu sorted herself out, went back on offence, and took the two sets she needed.

Then came the semifinal, and a chance against 13th-seed Belinda Bencic to become the first Canadian, man or woman, to make the U.S. Open final. Once again, Andreescu was not at her sharpest, but once again she managed to do what she needed to win. She won just enough of the key points — in a first-set tiebreak and then in a five-game run in the second set when she turned a 2-5 hole into a 7-5 win. Bencic said afterwards, simply and accurately, that she lost because Andreescu had played better in the big points.

It’s a trait that has defined her rookie season. It did again on Saturday.

Bianca Andreescu of Canada celebrates winning the Women’s Singles final match against against Serena Williams of the United States on day thirteen of the 2019 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Sept. 7, 2019, in New York City.Matthew Stockman /
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